SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C.,
until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Moved
to the Peninsula March 28. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle
of Williamsburg May 5. Reconnaissance to Seven Pines May 24-27.
Skirmishes at Seven Pines, Savage Station and Chickahominy May
24. Seven Pines May 29. Battle of Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, May
31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Brackett's
June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August
16. Moved to Fortress Monroe August 16-23, thence to Suffolk September
18, and duty there until December. Reconnaissance to Franklin
on the Blackwater October 3. Ordered to New Berne, N. C., December
4. Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro December 10-21. Southwest
Creek December 13-14. Kinston December 14. Whitehall December
16. Goldsboro December 17. Duty at New Berne, N. C., until January,
1863. Moved to Port Royal, S.C., January 28-31. At St. Helena
Island, S. C., until April. At Folly Island, S.C., until July.
Attack on Morris Island July 10. Assaults on Fort Wagner, Morris,
Island, S.C., July 11 and 18. Siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg,
Morris Island, and operations against Fort Sumter and Charleston
July 18-September 7. Duty on Morris and Folly Islands operating
against Charleston until December. Moved to Hilton Head, S. C.,
and duty there until April, 1864. Expedition to Whitemarsh Island,
Ga., February 22. Moved to Gloucester Point, Va., April. Butler's
operations on south side of James River and against Petersburg
and Richmond May 4-28. Ware Bottom Church May 9. Swift Creek or
Arrow field Church May 9-10. Proctor's Creek and operations against
Fort Darling May 12-16. Battle of Drewry's Bluff May 14-16. Operations
on Bermuda Hundred front May 17-30. Ware Bottom Church May 20.
Port Walthal June 16-17. Siege operations against Petersburg and
Richmond June 16 to November 22, 1864. Ware Bottom Church June
20. Demonstration on north side of the James at Deep Bottom August
13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Chaffin's
Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30. Darbytown Road October
7. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28. Mustered out November 22,
1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 188th Pennsylvania
Infantry.

Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 90 Enlisted
men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 146 Enlisted
men by disease. Total 247.

On the 1st of August, 1861, Joshua B. Howell, of Uniontown,
Fayette county, received an order from the Secretary of War, to recruit a
regiment of infantry. Recruiting was immediately commenced, and ten companies,
principally from the counties of Fayette, Washington, Somerset, and Greene,
rendezvoused at Camp La Fayette, near Uniontown, during the months of September
and October. The men were mostly from the agricultural districts, of good
physique, and with few exceptions, were destitute of military experience.

On the 12th of November, the regiment was organized by the
choice of the following field officers:

Joshua B. Howell, Colonel

Norton M'Giffin, of Washington county, Lieutenant
Colonel

Absalom Guiler, of Fayette county, Major

While in Camp La Fayette the regiment received a flag from the
ladies of Uniontown, and clothing from the government, and drill, without arms,
was commenced. Near the close of November it was ordered to Washington. At
Harrisburg the State colors were presented by Governor Curtin, and upon its
arrival at the National Capital, went into camp, where it received arms, and was
carefully instructed and drilled. A little later it moved to Camp Good Hope,
across the East Branch of the Potomac, where it was assigned to a brigade
commanded by Colonel Tidball, consisting of the Eighty-fifth and Ninety-third
Pennsylvania, and the Fifty-ninth and Eighty-sixth New York.

During the succeeding winter it was employed in the
construction of works for the defence of Washington, fatigue duty greatly
interfering with its instruction and drill. Schools, however, were established
for the officers, by Colonel Howell, in which a marked efficiency was attained.

In March, 1862, the regiment was moved to Meridian Hill,
where it was assigned to General Keim's Brigade, subsequently Wessells'. On the
29th, it left Washington, and embarking at Alexandria, with the Fourth Corps, it
proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where it joined the Army of the Potomac, arriving
on the 1st of April. It participated in the siege operations in front of
Yorktown, and upon the withdrawal of the enemy, joined in pursuit by the Winn's
Mill Eoad. It was engaged at Williamsburg, with a loss of two wounded, one
mortally, being advanced under a heavy artillery fire to the relief of the
Ninety-third Pennsylvania, and after the enemy had been driven, moved on with
the army, crossing the Chickahominy near Bottom's Bridge, on the 20th of May,
and taking position a little in advance of Fair Oaks Station.

Fair Oaks (Seven Pines)

The troops were immediately put to fortifying; but the works
had been only partially completed, when, at one P. M. of the 31st, the enemy
attacked. The Eighty-fifth occupied rifle-pits on the right of the main work, a
redoubt held by Hart's Battery.

"The enemy," says General Casey, "now
attacked me in large force on the centre and both wings, and a brisk fire of
musketry extended along the two opposing lines; my artillery in the meantime
throwing canister into their ranks with great effect. When the charge
had ceased, but not until the troops had reached the edge of the woods, the
most terrible fire of musketry commenced that I have ever witnessed. The enemy
again advanced in force, and the flanks having again been severely threatened,
a retreat to the works became necessary. To be brief, the rifle pits were
retained until they were almost enveloped by the enemy-the troops, with some
exceptions, fighting with spirit and gallantry."

The loss in the regiment was severe. Lieutenants James
Hamilton and Thomas S. Purviance were among the killed, and Julius A. Smith
mortally wounded and a prisoner. In the Seven Days' Battles the regiment was not
actively engaged, and suffered little loss. Its aggregate loss in the campaign
was eighty-seven killed and wounded. When M'Clellan with the bulk of his army
evacuated the Peninsula, Keyes' Corps remained on duty at Fortress Monroe.

Early on the morning of December 5th, Wessells' Brigade, at
this time composed of the Eighty-fifth, One Hundred and First, and One Hundred
and Third Pennsylvania, and the Eighty-fifth, Ninety-second, and Ninety-sixth
New York, was ordered from Suffolk, Virginia, where it had been stationed, to
Newbern, North Carolina, to reinforce General Foster, in command of the Eighteenth
Corps. Marching via Gatesville to the Chowan River, it embarked upon transports,
and arrived at its destination on the 9th. Foster was upon the point of starting
upon an expedition to destroy a rebel gun-boat at White Hall, on the Neuse, burn
the railroad bridge near Goldsboro, and make a diversion in favor of Burnside at
Fredericksburg, in which the brigade joined.

On the morning of the 13th, the column reached West Creek,
where the enemy was found posted to dispute the passage. Wessells had the
advance. The enemy had destroyed the bridge, and as the Union troops appeared,
he opened with his artillery. Answering batteries were soon brought into play,
and the Eighty-fifth was thrown to the right of the road, the Ninth New Jersey
to the left, and an advance ordered. These were quickly across the stream, and
moving upon the flanks of the enemy, compelled a hasty retreat, the enemy
leaving two pieces of artillery, five killed, a number wounded, and some
prisoners in the hands of the advancing regiments. The bridge was soon repaired
and the column passed over.

As the command moved on the following morning, it soon came
upon the enemy, and line of battle was immediately formed, Wessells' Brigade
having the left. As it advanced, the fire of musketry became lively, and the
artillery opened. The town of Kingston, situated on the north bank of the Neuse,
had been thoroughly fortified on all sides except that by which the column
approached, and this had been regarded as impassable by reason of impenetrable
swamps on either side. But notwithstanding the natural difficulties, and the hot
fire of the enemy, the troops pushed forward, wading through mud and water,
until the impediments were successfully passed. It was now three o'clock in the
afternoon. The column was immediately formed for a charge, which was gallantly
executed, routing the enemy and driving him across the river. As he retired, he
fired the bridge; but the pursuit was so close that the flames were arrested and
the bridge saved. The loss of the regiment was nine wounded.

At White Hall a brisk skirmish was had, and on the 17th the
column arrived at Goldsboro, where the enemy was drawn up for the defense of the
bridge, the destruction of which was a main object of the expedition. Line of
battle was formed, which swept the enemy before it, driving him across the
river, and burning the bridge. A considerable portion of the railroad was also
destroyed, when, the object of the expedition having been attained, the force
returned to Newbern.

On the 1st of January, 1863, the brigade moved to the south
side of the Trent River, opposite the town, where for several weeks the
Eighty-fifth performed camp duty, and exercised in the skirmish drill.
Subsequently it moved to a camp about three miles west of Newbern. Towards the
close of the month General Foster was ordered, with a part of his command, to
South Carolina, to co-operate with General Hunter in his operations against
Charleston. The Eighty-fifth arrived at Hilton Head on the 1st of February. The
brigade was now in command of Colonel Howell, the regiment of Lieutenant Colonel
Purviance.

At the beginning of April the brigade moved to Cole's
Island, and crossing Folly River, landed on Folly Island. Under cover of
darkness it made its way through the thick undergrowth to the head of the
island. No enemy.was found, and here the troops were spectators of the first
bombardment of Fort Sumter by Admiral Dupont. The attack proved unsuccessful,
and the fleet, with the land troops, except Howell's brigade, which was left to
garrison the island, were withdrawn. General Vogdes was put in command of the
post, and the force was soon after increased.

Folly Island is about seven miles long and one wide. On the
north-west it is separated from James Island by Folly River, a narrow but deep
stream. Between the river and James Island is a wide stretch of marshes. On the
south-east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Lighthouse Inlet, about six
hundred yards wide, separates it from Morris Island on the north. Roads, of
which there were none, were immediately cut, and works erected for its defense,
in which the Eighty-fifth bore its part of watching and toil.

Fort Wagner

Early in June General Hunter was superseded by General
Gilmore, who immediately commenced operations to possess Morris Island. To this
end powerful batteries were erected on the north end of Folly Island. The work
was performed exclusively by night, and the thick undergrowth served as a screen
to the working parties. When the works were completed it was cut away, and the
heavy guns, forty-four in number, were opened. The assaulting party, under
General Strong, drove the enemy, and gained possession of his first line of
works; but Fort Wagner, to the north, still held out.

Two gallant assaults were made upon it, but without
success; and General Gilmore determined to carry it by regular approaches.
Ground was broken on the 21st of July, and the work, which was terribly
exhausting, was pushed forward with the utmost vigor, day and night. Neither the
heat of a tropical climate, nor the missiles of a vigilant enemy, were allowed
to interfere with the labor.

On the 20th of August the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania, One
Hundredth New York, and the Third New Hampshire, were detailed to occupy the
advance trenches, each twenty-four hours in turn. The trenches were shallow, and
afforded little protection from the enemy's fire. On the left were his powerful
guns on James Island and Fort Johnson; in front those of Sumter, Gregg, and
Wagner; and on the right Fort Moultrie. The nights were damp and cold, and
during the day the thermometer stood at 100~ in the shade. The casualties were
numerous, and the sick list increased with alarming rapidity.

The Eighty-fifth took its turn in this terrible ordeal, and
on the 21st had one killed and twenty wounded, three mortally; on the 24th, one
killed and seven wounded, one mortally; on the 27th, two killed and eight
wounded, three mortally; on the 30th, four killed and eight wounded, Lieutenant
Colonel Purviance being among the killed; on the 2d of September, five wounded,
one mortally.

The losses by sickness and casualties were becoming so
alarming that Surgeon Hamlin, Medical Inspector of the department, reported that
unless Wagner should soon fall, the troops would not be in a condition to longer
prosecute the siege. The Eighty-fifth went upon the outer works with an
aggregate strength of four hundred and fifty-one, and on the last day, September
2d, it could muster but two hundred and seventy fit for duty. Two unsuccessful
attempts were made to surprise the garrison, and capture Fort Gregg. General
Gilmore then determined to again assault Fort Wagner; but a bombardment lasting
forty hours from land and sea--prelude to the intended assault which was to have
been led by General Terry--compelled its evacuation. It was followed by the
abandonment of the entire island, which was immediately occupied by the Union
troops.

Upon the fall of Lieutenant Colonel Purviance, Captain
Abraham assumed command of the regiment, Colonel Howell being in command of the
brigade, and Major Campbell on the staff of General Vogdes. Soon after Major
Campbell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Isaac M. Abraham to
Major.

In the early part of December the regiment was ordered to
Hilton Head, and upon its arrival went into camp a short distance from Port
Royal. Here, on pleasant camping ground, with light duty, the health and
strength of the regiment rapidly improved. In February, 1864, in company with
the Fourth New Hampshire, it was detailed to proceed on an expedition to White
Marsh, a small island near Savannah, for the purpose of dispersing a force of
the enemy employed with a working party of three hundred negroes in throwing up
fortifications.

The proper dispositions were made, and a landing effected;
but upon advancing, the rebel force was found to be much stronger than
anticipated, and the minor works covered by a strong fort well mounted and
manned. After severe skirmishing which developed the posture of affairs, the
Union forces were withdrawn and the enterprize abandoned. The Eighty-fifth lost
two wounded, and one, Captain John E. Michener, taken prisoner.

About the middle of April, three divisions of the troops
under General Gilmore, comprising the Tenth Corps, were ordered to Virginia, to
reinforce the Army of the James. They consisted of the divisions of Terry,
Turner and Ames, Terry's Division, the First, being composed of the brigades of
Howell, Hawley and Barton. The regiment left Hilton Head with many regrets, and
as the Fulton, on which it was embarked, steamed out of the harbor, many a
longing, lingering look was cast behind at the pleasant places and comfortable
quarters which would know them no more. Upon its arrival at Gloucester Point, it
was joined by the veterans, who had been absent on furlough, and a considerable
number of conscripts. Soon after its arrival, the Tenth Corps, with the
Eighteenth proceeded to Bermuda Hundred, and took position on the narrow neck of
land between the James and the Appomattox.

Bermuda Hundred

In the operations of the army which followed, the Eighty-fifth
was periodically upon the picket line, and employed in fortifying, but without
being seriously engaged, until the 20th of May. Butler's forces had been driven
back behind his fortifications, and the enemy had succeeded in capturing a line
of rifle-pits in front of Terry's Division. Howell's Brigade was ordered to
drive him out and re-possess them. The charge was gallantly made, and the works
re-taken. The rebel General Walker, in command, had his horse shot under him,
and was himself wounded and taken prisoner. The loss in the Eighty-fifth was two
killed and twenty-one wounded.

The regiment remained in this position, taking its place in
turn upon the picket line, and in defending the works, the enemy well fortified
in front, in strong force, and eager and watchful to secure an advantage.
Artillery duels were of almost daily occurrence, and picket firing rarely
ceased, sometimes rising to a perfect storm.

On the 14th of June, Grant's forces began to cross the
James, and soon after carried the outer works before Petersburg. Being hard
pressed, the enemy abandoned his works between the James and the Appomattox,
which were immediately occupied by the Tenth Corps, and some prisoners captured.
Lee's advance crossed the James, above Fort Darling on the 16th, and during the
afternoon skirmishing became very brisk. Early on the morning of the 17th, the
enemy attacked the picket line in front of Howell's Brigade, the Eighty-fifth
occupying the works evacuated the day previous. The fighting became very heavy,
and the regiment being hard pressed by a superior force and obliged to yield,
fell back to the rifle-pits on the old line. The loss on this and the following
day, when the fighting was renewed, was five killed and twelve wounded, two
mortally.

Deep Bottom

On the 20th of June, the regiment accompanied the corps on an
expedition to Deep Bottom, but only remained until the 25th, when, with Howells
Brigade, it returned again to camp and its place upon the lines. An agreement
was entered into between the pickets on either side not to fire on each other,
unless in case of an advance, and coffee, tobacco, and newspapers became
subjects of daily traffic. Deserters from the enemy came in in large numbers. By
the accidental explosion of a shell on the 9th of July, one man was killed, and
three wounded.

On the 13th of August, the Tenth Corps in connection with
the Second, under Hancock, proceeded again to Deep Bottom, where the enemy,
consisting of the corps of Longstreet and Hill, were found in strong force.
Hancock led the Second Corps into position along the New Market Road on the east
side of Four Mile Creek, his left resting on that stream.

Early on the morning of the 14th, Foster's Division of the
Tenth Corps moved out to Strawberry Plains, and encountered the enemy's
skirmishers, who fell back to his intrenchments. Foster's right rested on the
west bank of Four Mile Creek, and Terry's Division joined Foster's left.
Skirmishing was kept up until nine o'clock, when Terry's Division charged,
capturing a long line of earth-works. Most of the division was protected by a
wood, until within a hundred yards of the works; but the Eighty-fifth was
obliged to advance over an open field, where it was fearfully exposed to the
enemy's fire. The enemy retired to another and stronger line some distance in
the rear, and Terry rested in the captured works until evening, when he moved to
the support of Foster, who charged making further captures of earth-works,
including two mortars, four eight-inch howitzers, and a number of prisoners.
Further movements were made on the following day which resulted in some
fighting, but without material advantage.

The loss in the Eighty-fifth was two killed and nineteen
wounded, five mortally. Lieutenant William T. Campbell was killed.

At nine o'clock on the morning of the 16th, Terry's
Division moved to the front, some distance north of the position held the day
before. The pickets of the enemy, protected by rifle-pits, were encountered, but
after considerable skirmishing, they were driven out and fell back to a strong
line of earth-works. The division was massed in columns for charging them, and
at the word " forward" the Eighty-fifth, under Captain Hughes, Major
Abraham having been wounded on the day previous, dashed forward through the
slashed timber, and in face of an incessant musketry fire, never wavering nor
halting, until the works in its front were carried, and Terry's Division was in
full possession; but the troops connecting with it on the right had been less
successful, and the enemy, recovering from the shock, and having received
reinforcements, commenced a vigorous attack on its flank, which compelled it to
fall back. Retiring about four hundred yards a new line was established, and
fortified.

About two hundred prisoners were captured in the charge.
The Eighty-fifth, in addition to a number of prisoners, took three stands of
colors. Its loss was severe. An eye witness says,

" the enemy withheld his fire until the troops were
close to his works, and when the first volley was delivered I thought the men
were lying down to protect themselves from the fire. It was only when the
thinned ranks closed up, as they quickly did, that I realized that the fallen
were either killed or wounded."

The loss was nine killed and fifty-four wounded, five
mortally, and one taken prisoner. Captains Lewis Watkins and Levi M. Rogers were
among the mortally wounded. On the afternoon of the 18th the enemy charged, but
was easily repulsed, the Eighty-fifth, under cover of a rude breast-work, having
but one wounded.

On the 20th the troops were all withdrawn from the north
side of the James, except Foster's Division, and the regiment returned to its
old camp where it rested until the 24th, when the Tenth Corps was ordered to the
south side of the Appomattox, where it occupied a strong line of works and
rifle-pits. Casualties from sharp-shooters and from the enemy's shells were of
almost daily occurrence. On the 13th of September the Eighty-fifth was ordered
to Fort Morton, a fourteen gun battery, for garrison duty. Just previous to this
change, Colonel Howell was assigned to the command of a division of colored
troops, and Colonel Pond of the Sixty-second Ohio, succeeded him in command of
the brigade.

On the night of the 12th of September, while returning from
corps headquarters, Colonel Howell was thrown from his horse, and so severely
injured that he soon after died. On being relieved at the fort two weeks later,
the regiment returned to the division, and with it joined in the movement across
the James, by the Tenth and Eighteenth corps, by which Fort Harrison was
captured and a long line of earth-works at Chapin's Farm, the Eighty-fifth twice
advancing to within three miles of the rebel capital. In the operations of the
army upon this part of the line, the regiment participated, being engaged on the
1st of October, and again on the 7th, when three divisions of the enemy attacked
Kautz's Cavalry, driving him back, capturing several pieces of his artillery,
and striking the right of Terry's Division. Pond's Brigade occupied the left of
the line, and the Eighty-fifth the part where it crosses the New Market Road.
The engagement continued until three o'clock in the afternoon, when the enemy,
having suffered severely, withdrew, closely pursued by Terry, recovering the
ground lost by Kautz. The loss in the Eighty-fifth was three wounded. On the
12th General Terry, temporarily in command of the corps, was ordered to make a
reconnoissance with the First find Third divisions upon the Darbytown Road. The
Eighty-fifth was deployed as skirmishers in front of Pond's brigade, and soon
encountered the enemy's skirmishers, who were driven back to a recently
constructed earth-work mounted with artillery. A charge was made upon it but was
unsuccessful. The enemy in turn charged, but was easily repulsed. Towards
evening the command returned to its entrenchments. The Eighty-fifth lost seven
wounded, one mortally.

On the 14th of October, the regiment was ordered from the
front, the veterans and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred and
Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, and the balance, whose terms of service were soon to
expire, reported at Portsmouth and were ordered into camp. A month later it
proceeded to Pittsburgh, where, on the 22d of November, it was mustered out of
service.

Before leaving Portsmouth, five commissioned officers and
fifty enlisted men, under Major Abraham, were detailed as guard to a fleet of
transports carrying rebel prisoners for exchange from Point Lookout, Maryland,
to Savannah, Georgia. There was so much delay upon the sailing of the fleet, and
after its arrival at its destination, before the exchange was effected, that
this detachment did not return until some time after the muster out of the rest
of the regiment.